March 2003

	Daniel  Delany and the Early Brothers As we get closer to the Bi-centenary of our foundation  we continue our short history of our Founder  and the early Brothers  in the next few issues of the Newsletter.  It was written by Bro. Raymond Forde  while he was in Kamagut, Kenya, and  was based on research by Bro. Linus Walker.
Br Raymond  M.  Forde		Bro. Linus Walker

In 1792 six women teachers were sent to Mountrath to begin the work of the Sunday schools. After a period of just nine months they had helped to bring thousands to the Sacraments and to the regular practice of religion. But in 1793 the school house was attacked by a hostile mob so Bishop Delany (pictured) withdrew them. It was from this time that he entertained the idea of establishing at least one institute of teaching religious in the Diocese as it became increasingly difficult to keep a supply of suitable teachers for his Sunday schools. He had also asked the newly founded Presentation Sisters to help but they refused. Many events conspired to delay any intention Bishop Delany had in founding his own institute.

In the country, generally, everything was going from bad to worse. Secret Societies were common and they fought the land system, the Churches and each other. There was distrust, fear and hatred on all sides and the Government seemed to be helping such crimes. Then in 1798 some of the South Eastern regions rose in rebellion. Now the Government reacted with severity. In Tullow alone one hundred of those who had rebelled were killed in two days. Many of them were innocent poor people.  Carlow town also suffered as did every little Parish in the surrounding areas. Fr. John Murphy, who was the leader, was savagely killed in Tullow and his head was spiked at the entrance to the Parish Church which had been taken over by the military Eastern regions rose in rebellion. Now the Government reacted with severity. In Tullow alone one hundred of those who had rebelled were killed in two days. Many of them were innocent poor people.  Carlow town also suffered as did every little Parish in the surrounding areas. Fr. John Murphy, who was the leader, was savagely killed in Tullow and his head was spiked at the entrance to the Parish Church which had been taken over by the military British Soldiers. Everybody was afraid and even the Bishop left his own house and went to live with a friend near the Main Street.

Resistance was overcome but still the hanging and torturing of suspects went on as did the burning of Catholic property. During this awful time Daniel offered no word of condemnation but quietly ministered to all who might be reached by love and gentleness. By modelling his life on St. Francis De Sales he employed with effect, prayers, fastings, vigils and periods in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

In 1805 with his new Church completed he renewed the Eucharistic processions, discontinued seven years earlier. Now they were even larger than before. In the same year, even though the Church in Mountrath was not completed, it was possible to celebrate Mass in it. The work had been suspended during the rebellion as hostile crowds threatened to kill the workers if they proceeded to build. In this year also having secured the lease of the Church grounds in Tullow he decided to erect a small building on the site.

As soon as the little house by the Church had been sparsely furnished, Daniel invited six women chosen from among the ranks of his Catechists to form the community of the Sisterhood of St. Brigid. Foundation Day was to be their Patron's feast day, Feb. 1st. 1807. Having prayed together through the previous night the ladies reassembled that day and took formal possession of their convent. They were to work as before in the Sunday Schools and in addition to provide religious and secular education for the children of the Parish.

As candidates he would have only those "who possessed an ardent desire for holiness and who were prepared for an austere, self British Soldiers. The first Sisters were long time members of the Confraternity. In addition "all had made perpetual vows of chastity several years before. Their ages ranged from 29 to 48. Poor in the world's goods and with little education they had what was most needed a great simplicity of heart and a true love of God and of their neighbour". (Brigidine Annals)

One year and one day later Bishop Delany brought his dream a stage further with the establishment of a community of men.

On the morning of Feb. 2nd. 1808, the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady, the Bishop having formally received the first four members who wished to dedicate their lives to God under the Patronage of St. Patrick offered the Holy Sacrifice in the old chapel. The four men were:

 Patrick McMahon :   Bro. John Baptist
 Maurice Cummins :   Bro. John Evangelist
 Richard Fitzpatrick :  Bro. Bernard
 Ambrose Dawson :    Bro. Joseph

Among Patrician Brothers to this day there survives a tradition that at the Mass of Foundation Bishop Delany paused for a moment of silent prayer immediately after the consecration, then took the Host, touched it to the wood of the new tabernacle and uttered aloud the words "Let no man undo what I have done". The old chapel was to serve as their first monastery and school and according to the then Archbishop of Dublin,, "it was reduced for the most part to a pile of stones". It was low, cold and unhealthy.

The Founder had four immediate purposes for each of his institutes:

1  Personal sanctification of each member.
2  He wished them to have a great influence  for good in the Parish.
3  He wished them to be the central  group of  a band of committed catechists who shared  his vision for the 
    Sunday Schools.
4 He had in mind the religious, moral and literary education of children in daily schools. 

The Brothers' programme was, religious and secular instruction of children, Sunday School work, evening classes. The Brothers were also to supervise wakes and funerals where they would substitute prayer and spiritual reading for the games, amusements and drinking then customary.

The community was to be as self-supporting as possible. Daniel helped as much as he could. They were to depend on their paying pupils and on the labour of their own hands. But as the income from the schools was very small and they got little from other work, they found it extremely difficult to support themselves. God's love was with them helping them to survive.

The Founder made himself responsible from the start for the spiritual guidance given the new Brothers and for their continuing formation. For this purpose:

(a) He held conferences on the second Sunday of each month. These conferences generally lasted one to two hours during which he instructed them in Religious discipline.

(b) He heard their confessions on Saturdays and on the eves of holydays.

(c) He paid three or four visits each week, often coming to share their afternoon meal of potatoes and milk or to spend some time of recreation with them.

He was in no hurry to write a rule. Instead he often told them that charity and a pure heart would be their best guide.

In the meantime many candidates came and left, but three of the early group who stayed were:

Patrick Woods>>>Bro. Francis who came in March
Patrick Kelly>>>Bro. Serenus who came in April
Thomas Phelan>>>Bro. Dominic who came in June.

The Founder appointed Bro. Joseph Dawson as the first Superior, because he had previous experience of religious life as a Trappist in England.

In September 1993 Gerry took charge of the senior house at Kamagut. In November 1994 he assumed the onerous task of Director of Novices as Bro. Michael Stanton was compelled, through illness, to return to Australia.  To the task of initiating young Kenyan men into the duties and demands of religious life he devoted his full time and energy.  He was always present at every religious exercise and punctual at all times. Never too keen on time-wasting he insisted on having classes when everybody else would be interested in a holiday or a break of some kind.

During the nine years he spent in Kamagut he never missed his daily walk through the Barrack field even though, at times, he would be annoyed by groups of children craving sweets or shillings. Gerry was not a TV addict.  Much of his leisure time was spent listening to the radio or light classical music on tape or CD.  He was an avid fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's music but he also liked some modern tunes.  Reading was a great hobby of his and books of travel or the history of India or Pakistan as well as the great novels of Jeffrey Archer were favourites of his.

Being a gifted conversationalist, he would continue for hours discoursing intelligently on a variety of subjects. He was a keen follower of sport and while in St. Anthony’s, Lahore, as well as being Headmaster, he supervised hockey, cricket, volleyball, table tennis and soccer.  He loved his visits to England and Ireland being extremely happy to watch Wimbledon on TV or cricket from the many English venues. 

Sadly he was in India when he got word that his parents had died but he managed to be home on time for his mother’s funeral.

During his final years in Kenya all realised that Gerry’s health was failing even though he never complained. Even so when he was diagnosed as being seriously ill shortly after he returned to Ireland we were shocked and especially at how quickly deterioration set in.  It was sad to witness someone with whom you have lived and worked for so long thus wasting away and being able to give just a glimmer of a smile during a final visit to his bedside.

The funeral Mass was devotional and inspiring, the singing being superb.  The homily preached by the celebrant, Fr. Paddy Byrne, paid a fitting tribute to the Patrician Brothers, their founder and to Gerry in particular for his more than fifty years service in the Congregation.

Gerry, you had a successful innings and scored many a boundary on God’s missionary team.  May your sporting soul rest peacefully on the pitches of the Lord above.

(This appreciation was written by Raymond Forde who worked with Gerry for 7 years in Pakistan and 9 years in Kenya).

Once again we come to celebrate our foundation day. We commemorate again the birthday, the anniversary of our congregation, the day on which we the Patrician Brothers, were born so to speak, though like any other birth there had already been a period of gestation.

We notice in the world at large that birthdays are celebrated with great gusto especially in the earlier years. They mark a high point in the persons life and friends are invited along to concelebrate.. We notice too that certain birthdays are more important than others and are given more prominence. The coming of age birthday be it eighteen or twenty one is a much celebrated event as are twenty fifth and fiftieth anniversaries. But we notice also that as the years move on the birthday is an event about which we get less and less excited. Only very special ones are now given prominence as when an eightieth birthday is celebrated or on the more rare occasions when someone reaches the century mark. On these occasions those around us feel it is fitting to honour the occasion with celebration. And so as we reach our one hundred and ninety fifth birthday it is fitting that we mark the occasion yet once again.

We are happy to have with us just a few of our special friends and co-workers. We welcome Bros. Jim and Tom who in a real sense are our brothers having come through a similar initiation process and laboured for many years in the same vineyard that of Christian education. We also welcome Peadar and Mary along with Noel and regret that Rita is unable to be here. We appreciate Fr. Martins presence to lead us in celebrating the Eucharist. He, like the poor is always with us. Noel and Peadar have taken up the torch in our primary and secondary schools. I hope your presence here today shows our solidarity with you in the positions you now hold. Though this support may not be at the coal face itself you are remembered daily in our community prayers. I am aware of course that Bro. Nial is very much at the coal face and a most valued member of St. Patrick’s staff.

Anniversaries are occasions when we remember and reminisce. We remember the days of old and the years long past. The early days are well documented  - the train of events which led the young Daniel Delany from rural Paddock in Laois to ordination in France and back to become Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, the wretched, depressed and poverty stricken state of the country in a penal law and pre Catholic emancipation era. The foundation sprang from a local need for a stable and dedicated body of catechists and educators and Daniel Delany addressed the need much the same as Edmund Rice and Nano Nagle had already done and as Catherine McCauley would do a few years later. We know of the vicissitudes, struggles and hardships endured by the early members. We are proud to recall and relate the heroic work done by so many in trying and adverse circumstances. Then came the years of expansion and consolidation which we thought then would last forever. We left our tents and moved into our castles forgetting that we had not here a lasting city. 0ur Schools became centres of excellence and we were content to bask in the glory very often seeking the bubble reputation. In the late sixties President Julius Nyrere of Tanzania, then one of the more enlightened rulers in Africa told the expatriate missionaries not to put down roots but to do their job and be ready to move on. It was an admonition that could have been heeded and applied here at home. But its hard to leave the flesh pots and move into the desert.. Even or especially the institutional church is not finding it easy.

The upheaval of Vatican 2 and the Council’s decree  on the renewal of religious life, (Perfectae Caritatis) are reminders of the need of continual renewal a continual return to the sources of all Christian life, the original charism of the founder and adjustments to the conditions of the times. The changes in religious congregations since Vatican 2 should not be a surprise in the light of the history of religious life. Seventy five percent of all men's orders founded before 1500 and sixty five percent of those founded before 1800 no longer exist. Fr. Michael Corkery speaking to us in Mallow on this same occasion in the eighties related how an uncle of his, then in his eighties and residing in Belgium was the last remaining member of the order to which he belonged. Religious communities not unlike large corporations are subject to structural change. Some have downsized, others have merged and some have already passed from the scene. We can lament with Azariah "We, Lord, have become fewer than any nation and are brought low this day in all the world”. But we must also remember that God fulfils himself in many ways and Azariah's prayer brought him and his companions through the time of crisis.

And now from the general to the particular. What of us here in Kingston, this remnant of former glory? Are we past our sell by date as Ann Robinson would say or do we feel like Charles Haughey did and feel able to quote Othello 
“I've done the state some service and they know't”. Or should we be filled with regrets, disillusionment, depression and nostalgia. ln 'Waiting for Godot' Beckett queries "What are we doing here?" and as Hamlet said "that is the question." We are blessed in this that we happen to know the answer. But now more than ever is our faith, our trust and our hope put to the test - and indeed our charity, for it is no small thing for brothers to live together in harmony. Yes, in the immense confusion of an unstable war-threatened world and a pluralistic society we are waiting for God. Many are not comfortable with the idea of waiting in a world where instant gratification is the expected norm. But ours is not a passive waiting for the Lord to come but an active preparation of days filled with activities, reflection and prayer. No! Regrets, disillusionment, depression or nostalgia are not in the frame. Waiting is a community activity. In fact it is a witness demanded from us at all times.

We can identify with the lines:

Grow old along with me! 
The best is yet to be,
The last of life for which the first was made: Our times are in his hands
Who saith "A whole I planned,
Youth showed but half: trust God: 
See all nor be afraid!"

And so we know that

 To talk with God,
 No breath is lost -
 Talk on!
 To walk with God,
 No strength is lost - 
 Walk on
 To wait on God,
 No time is lost - 
 Wait on.

At times he seemed to proclaim loudly his strong opposition to certain modern practices, being somewhat conservative in his views.  But deep within he was a kind-hearted, trustworthy and concerned friend.  He was, as I was recently assured, a gifted comforter to those who experienced worry or trouble of any kind.  He loved to pay short visits to those who were ill, in hospital or living alone, always regaling them with news of the day.

Farming was a frequent topic of conversation with him, as Manley Hopkins observed, he related perfectly to 
 “landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow and plough” and delighted in places where “weeds in wheels shoot long and lovely and lush”.  Those who knew him during his period as farm manager in Mount St. Joseph tell us that he did magnificent work during that time.  When the property was sold he still paid a daily visit to the golf course and buildings during each stage of development.  He chatted casually with the workers, gleaning little snippets of news each time.  During his last visits, though thrilled at the prospect of further improvements he was sad to see the old garden wall being demolished to facilitate the building of forty-five extra hotel bedrooms.

Since my return from Kenya I travelled on short trips with Alban almost every evening whether to stroll in the vast tree nurseries at Ballintemple, the glorious sylvan setting of Altamont Gardens, to ramble on the quiet footpaths of Kiltegan or to take the short walk at Ardoyne church.  Everything in nature thrilled and intrigued him during these leisurely walks, magnificent trees, fast-flowing rivers, small waterfalls, an expansive pool, swans, ducks, small birds, sheep, lambs and cattle.  As he stopped to admire each fresh flower and shrub he was always eager to suggest how good God is to us.  He was keen to learn the names of the many huge trees and small shrubs in Altamont, being generally amazed at how easily the head gardener would recall each difficult botanical name.

Now, Alban, your troubles are over so you will not have to worry whether the pot-holes are filled, speed-limit signs are conveniently placed or that the bales in the field in Ardristan are stacked too high and too close to the main road.
Thank you for being such a kind considerate companion, especially during the past year.  May you rest happily and peacefully in the heavenly pastures, reaping a just reward for the long arduous years in the cultivation of the Lord’s vineyard here below.  (Raymond M. Forde)

Alban with Raymond (left) and former brother, Fergus Freyne, taken about 1958

Bro. Eliud Njoroge with Bishop Cornelius Korir on his left, his mother on the right and other family members.

Outside St.Monica’s Church, Moi Barracks, Kamagut where Eliud Njoroge was professed on December 10th 2002

Nicholas congratulates the new Novices: Emmanuel, Geoffrey and Daniel

January 7th 2003 was an important day in the life of the Kenyan Region.  On that day the first Patrician owned school was opened at Kabongo. The school began with 104 local children in three classes. There are four teachers: Bro. Peter Oduor (Principal) and Bro. Masese with Rose and Grace.  We wish the staff and pupils every success in this new venture.

Standard 1 with Peter, James and Masese.	Standard 2 with Peter, Masese, James, Rose and Grace
Standard 3 and Staff with Bro. James	The first four teachers at Kabongo  with Bro. James: L. to R. Grace, Andrew, Rose and Peter
The house on the Brothers property at Kabongo where Peter and Masese reside at present.  The new Brothers residence will be built close to this one.	Kabongo, January 2003. Classroom Block on left, Administration Block on right.

Christmas Day at Kamagut. The gathering for Christmas dinner includes two Brigidine Sisters, Sr. Angela Phelan (Kacheliba) and Sr. Mary Slattery from Ireland. Samuel,  the Kamagut cook, is at back left. Answer to the  vocation crisis ? Leo and friend. Mass for Alban in Papua New Guinea 27th February 2003 In the altar frontpiece for the Mass the PNG Postulants tried to capture something of  what they had heard of him.  Considering that they never met him we think  that their interpretation is quite remarkable.